Haitian gang violence claimed the lives of two journalists and a police officer during a press conference on Tuesday at Haiti’s largest public hospital, highlighting the ongoing instability in the nation’s capital. The attack, carried out by the Viv Ansanm gang, occurred at the State University of Haiti Hospital (HUEH) in downtown Port-au-Prince, a facility that has long been plagued by gang control.
The press conference, scheduled for 8:00 a.m., was intended to mark the reopening of the hospital after it had been closed in February when gang members occupied and severely damaged the facility. Videos from July showed the hospital riddled with bullet holes, emergency vehicles burned, and medical supplies looted. Efforts to restore the hospital, with funding from the United States and France, have been ongoing since police secured the area earlier this year.
The attack began around 11:00 a.m., shortly before the expected arrival of Health Minister Duckenson Lorthe Blema. He had been appointed after a cabinet reshuffle that followed the departure of former Interim Prime Minister Garry Conille. As journalists and officials awaited Blema’s appearance, heavily-armed gang members opened fire, reportedly in retaliation for not being consulted about the hospital’s reopening.
Eyewitness accounts described scenes of chaos and horror as journalists and others sought cover from the gunfire. “It felt like a terrible movie,” said photojournalist Dieugo Andre, who was present during the attack. Photographer Jean Fregens Regala recounted the gruesome injuries inflicted on his colleagues, some of whom were struck in the chest, face, or head.
At least seven other journalists were injured, and survivors described frantically hiding behind shipping containers and burned-out cars. The gang members, armed with high-powered weapons, fired through a metal gate surrounding the hospital. Local media attributed the attack to Johnson “Izo” Andre, the notorious leader of the Viv Ansanm gang, which controls significant portions of Port-au-Prince.
The reopening of the hospital had been seen as a symbol of hope for thousands of impoverished Haitians who rely on its services. The attack underscores the profound challenges facing Haiti, where lawlessness and gang violence have created a humanitarian and security crisis.
Haitian authorities have yet to announce further measures in response to the attack, and the situation remains dire for both journalists and the local population, who continue to live under the threat of gang domination.
